It seems to me that the Left is unhappy not because of the slow growth per se, but because the lack of growth has made Obama, and the Progressive agenda, unpopular. The Left not only wants to do certain things, it wants praise for those things as well. In that, as in much else, the Left doesn’t differ from other movements.

Rubashov

The problem with Klein’s “substantial” list is that it assumes passing a bill is necessarily a good thing. People on both left and right raise serious doubts about the Stimulus, the health care bill, and the financial regulation bill.

In addition, the list of “good things he did” also neatly avoids the issue of “bad things he has done,” like expand the War on Terror into several new countries and the lengthy list of domestic issues that Kaus provides.

Klein is like a stage magician, hoping you’ll only think about what he tells you to think about. Once you’ve narrowed your vision per his instructions, then he can say “oh, it’s just Obama’s bad luck with the economy” and you’ll believe him.

Jim.

There are only two good things on that list — the legislation is either deeply flawed or completely wrong — and neither of those were something Obama had a whole lot of a role in doing.

The SEALs (and defense / intelligence establishment) handed him Osama on a plate; as far as Gadfly is concerned he is being *deliberately* standoffish.

If people aren’t happy with Kleinschen’s list, that should probably tell him that Obama isn’t going to get another term.